The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-03-10

saw George Lee and Edward Falkner in this
house the night after the robbery lie says
that they were maxim themselves at home
here, as if they were among friends. and
considerin' the kind Of help we've had from
Mr.. John Hale, it looks ez if it might be true"
ats an infamous lie!" said Hale
at may be true, john" said Mrs. Scott,
suddenly stepping in front of her pale
checked daughters. "a wounded man was
brought here out of the storm by his friend
who claimed the shelter of your roof. As
your mother should have been unworthy to
stay beneath it and have denied that shelter
or withheld it until knew his name and
what he was. He stayed here until he could
be removed. He left letter FOR you. 1t will
probably tell you if he was the man this per-
son is seeking"
THANK you, mother" said Hale, lifting
her hand to his lips quietly; land perhaps
you will kindly tell these gentleman that. as
your son does not care to know who or what
the stranger was, there is no necessity for
opening the letter or keeping Mr.. Stanner
moment longer"
'But you will ohlige me, John, Ivy opening
it before these gentlemen" said Mrs. Hale,
recovering her voic. and color. please to
follow me" she said, preceding them to the
staircase.
They entered Mr.. Hale's room, now re-
stored to its original condition. On the table
lay letter and small package. The eyes
of Dir. Stauner, a little abashed by tue atti-
tude of the two women, fastened upon it and
gliStened.
Josephine handed her husband the letter.
He opened it i'll breathless silence and read:
"John Hale:
fNt. fo,.i 1x1
making yourself champion of justice and
pursuing us, except it was to offer you fair
field and no favor. We didn't get that much
from you, but accident brought us into your
house and into your family, where we did
get it and were fairly vanquished. To the
victors belong the spoils. We leave the pack
age of greenbacks which we took from Col.
Clinch in the Sierra coach, but which was
first stolen by Harkins from forty-four share
holders of the Excelsior Ditch. We have no
right to say what you should do with it, but
if you aren't tired of following the same line
of justice that induced you to run after us
you will try to restore it to its rightful own
ers.
1--WE leave you another trifie as An evidence
that our intrusion into your affairs was not
without some service to you, even if the SER
will find a pair of boots in the corner of your
closet. They were taken from the burglari-
Gus feet of Manuel, your peon, who, believ-
ing the three ladies were alone and at his
mercy, entered your house with all accom-
plice at 2 o'clock on the morning Of the 21st,
and was kicked out by
"Your ol,edient servants,
"GEoRGE LEE G. EDwAED FALKNER"
Hale's voice and color changed Oh reading
this last paragraph. He turned quickly
toward his wife; Kate flew to the closet,
where the muffled boots of Manuel confronted
them. ave never knew 1t. | always sus-
pected something that night" said Mrs. Hale
and Mrs. Scott in the same breath.
That's all very we'll and like George Lees
high falutin'," snid Staner, approaching the
table, but as long ez the grcenbacks are
here lie can make what capital he likes outer
Manuel. i'll trouble you to pass over that
package"
"Excuse me-" said Hale, "but believe this
Is the package taken from Col. Clinch. Is it
not lie added, appealing TO the colonel.
at is" said Clinch.
"Then take it," said Hale, banding him the
package. "The first restitution is to You, but
believe you will fulfil Loo. in-i'',."t'~.- nc
well as myself"
"But," said Stanner, furiously interpreting,
"4'ye warrant to seize that wherever found,
and / dare you to disobey the law"
"Mr. Stanner," said Clinch, slowly, "there
are ladies present. If you insist upon having
that package | must ask them to withdraw,
and I'm afraid you'll find me better prepared
to resist second robbery than was the first.
Your warrant, which was taken out by the
express company, is supplanted by civil pro-
ceedings taken the day before yesterday
against the property of the fugitive swindler
Harkins! You should have consulted the
sheriff before you came here"
Stanner saw his mistake. But in the faces
of his grinning followers he was obliged to
keep up his buster "You shall hear from
me again, sir" he said, turning on his heel.
II beg your pardon" said Clinch grimly,
''but do I understand that at last am to
have the honor
s.You shall hear from the companys law
yers, sir" said Stanner, turning red, and
noisily leaving the room.
IL sAnd so, my dear ladies'" said Col Clinch,
'you have spent a week with ahighwayman.
/ say highwayn,an, for it would be hard to
call my young friend Falkner Ivy that name
for his first offense, committed under great
provocation, and undoubtedly instigated by
Lee, who was an old friend of his, and to
whom he came, no doubt, in desperation"
Kate stole triumphant glance at her sis.
ter, who dropped her lids over her glistening
eyes, "And this Mr.. Lee" she continued
more gently" is he really highwaymanr'
"George Lee" said Clinch, settling himself
back oratorically in his chair, "nny dear young
lady, is a highwayman, but not of the COM
mon sort He is a gentleman born, madam,
comes from one Of the oldest families of the
eastern shore of Maryland. He never mixes
himself up with anything but some of the
biggest strikes, and he's an educated man.
He is very popular with ladies and children;
he was never known to do or say anything
that could bring blush to the cheek of
beauty or a tear to the eye of innocence. /
think I may say I'm sure you found him
So" .... -..:f .t
II shall never believe him anything but
gentleman" said Mrs. Scott firmly.
"If he has defect it is perhaps too reck-
less indulgence in draw poker" said the
colonel musingly; mot unbecoming gentle
man, understand me, Mrs, Scott, but perhaps
too reckless for bis own good. George played
a grand game, q glittering game, but pardon
me if ! say an uncertain game. I've told
him SO; it's the only point on which we ever
differed"
"Then you know him.' said Mrs. Hale,
lifting her soft eyes 10 the colonel.
81 haze that honor"
add his appearance, Josephine" broke in
Hale, somewhat ostentaticusly, appear to
---er-er-cQrrespond with these qualitiesi
You know what nean.n
"He certainly seemed very simple and
natural" said Mrs. Hale, slightly drawing
her pretty lips together. ale did not wear
his trousers rolled up over his boots in the
company OF ladies, as you're doing bow, nor
did he mako his first appearance in this
house with such o bat as you wore this morn
ing, Or should not bayo admitted him."
There were few moments of embarrassing
silence.
"Do you intend TO give that package TO
Ur. Falkner yourself, coloncIT asked Mrs.
Scott
81 shall hand it over 10 the Excelsior COM
parry" said the colonel, "but l shall inform
Ned Of what have DONE
"Then,n said Mrs. Scott, "will You kindly
take message from US to him,'
III You wish it,
aYou will be doing me a great favor, colo
pei," said Hale, politely.
Whatever the message was, six months
h,.o,, TIL